Shloka 41

Bhīmasena’s Kalinga Engagement and the Approach of Bhīṣma (भीमसेन-कालिङ्ग-संग्रामः)

Devanagari script

अपरे क्षत्रिया: शूरा: कृतवैरा: परस्परम्‌ | नैव शस्त्र विमुछ्चन्ति नैव क्रन्दन्ति मारिष,माननीय महाराज! दूसरे शूरवीर क्षत्रिय आपसमें वैर बाँधे हुए उस घायल अवस्थामें भी न हथियार छोड़ते थे और न क्रन्दन ही करते थे

Transliteration

apare kṣatriyāḥ śūrāḥ kṛtavairāḥ parasparam | naiva śastraṃ vimuñcanti naiva krandanti māriṣa ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: И другие доблестные кшатрии — связанные друг с другом закреплённой враждой — даже будучи ранены, не выпускали оружия и не издавали стонов, о почтенный царь. В самой гуще боя их воинский закон и гордость держали их в стойком, молчаливом терпении.

Word by Word

अपरेothers

क्षत्रियाःKshatriyas, warriors

शूराःbrave

कृतवैराःhaving made enmity, sworn enemies

परस्परम्mutually, with one another

नnot

एवindeed, at all

शस्त्राणिweapons

विमुञ्चन्तिthey release/let go (of)

नnot

एवindeed, at all

क्रन्दन्तिthey cry out, lament

मारिषO venerable sir!

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

kṣatriyas

śastra (weapons)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle: even when injured, a warrior does not abandon arms or give way to public lament. It portrays an ethic of endurance and honor, while also underscoring the harsh, binding force of mutual enmity in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene to the king: many warriors, locked in mutual hostility, continue fighting despite wounds. Their refusal to drop weapons or cry out emphasizes the intensity of the combat and the warriors’ determination.